Tony Walsh – author on Oman & Arabia
Snapshots of my life & visits to Oman. Oman’s built history stretches back 5,000 years, its one of the Arab world’s most enduring cultures. Today its a modern economy with a hospitable population.
A startling new style of building for Muscat
The Architects of the Embassy of Oman in Paris have won a proposal for very modern Cultural Complex in Muscat – dramatic, low rise and probably intended to be Iconic.
The winning design by Architecture Studio will create the National Archives, the National Library and the Omani National Theatre.
The project will be designed on a 40,000 sqm area – broadly the same as the building size of the Grand Mosque. Its estimated budget reaches OMR 40 million.
Nawras Fixed Line phones in Oman
A Royal Decree finalizes Nawras’s fixed line permits. They appear to have permission for a full range of services . Their 3G internet has been my fall back when OmanTel’s internet connection is not working . Will they have number transfer for the fixed line ?
A replacement train for Hoota Cave
The Oman Ministry of Tourism looks as if it will replace the Train in Hoota Cave. A tender has been issued for supply of a new train with the documents being opened end of July . I must admit that I preferred the walk from the ticket office to the cave as it’s a relatively short one and looks over a nice vista.
I wonder what will happen to the old one ?
I chased the sun through Oman along the Tropic of Cancer
On my search for the Tropic of Cancer Oman I almost literally crawled up the slopes of Jebel Misht and then made a very tired stumble back into the car – saw sunset in the Rub Al Khali and had a puncture on the way out.
Its one of the Earths Continue reading “Tropic of Cancer Oman and my magazine article about it “
3 Harley’s pass through Muscat
The very distinctive roar of the Harley motor-bike swept through Muscat as members of the Muscat HOG group passed through a gate in Muscat’s wall.
A hot time of year to work, but Marta Leite Castro was so cool
It was a pleasure to work with Marta Leite Castro and cameraman Lima.
They were in Muscat for an upcoming Portuguese TV series . We were able to organize some great angles for the filming and Muscat won over another fan.
On a humid morning Wild Plants of Oman is launched
Bait Al Baranda hosted the launch of Dr Annette Patzelt’s new book “Wild Plants of Oman’.
For a layman the book has Continue reading “Book on Flora of Oman”
Friday afternoon is the traditional time for a few villages on Oman’s Batina coast to hold Bull Fights and recently I went to two.
These Bull Fights, rather than a Spanish style fight where a Matador kills a Bull, are contests between two evenly matched bulls.
The Bulls are usually an owners pride and joy and much personal prestige hangs on the result. The Bulls are given heroic names like Antar (an ancient Arab hero) or even modern ones perhaps Arnold (after Arnold Schwarzenegger).
This variety of cattle, and subsequent event, are said to have been brought into Oman by the Portuguese in the 16thc, and as they are only popular on the thin coastal strip that was under Portugal’s influence this does seem quite possible. Owners may have several Bulls who are led onto the arena under the supervision of a ‘Master of Ceremonies’, who wields a loudspeaker for effect.
The contest is to have the two bulls use brute force or intimidation to make the other animal submit and run away. Sometimes the losing opponent runs before the contest, other times the animals are so evenly matched that after 5 minutes or so they are separated.
Doubtless, with a ton of animal on each side injuries to the animals happen, though after innumerable visits I’ve never seen any; indeed with a value in excess of luxury cars, its in the owner’s interest to keep it from happening.
Oman is home or visited by almost 500 species of Bird; we were delighted to see two of the most magnificent.
Skirting around Jebel Samhan in Dhofar we had two wonderful experiences . Over the coastal region two Verreaux’s Eagles cavorted in the sky above. These are probably the largest Eagles in Oman and since they pair for a long time – I assume this was a male and female.
Larger still – a flock (if that’s the appropriate name ) of 8 Griffin Vultures glided away over the mountain plateau. The Griffin, along with the Lappet Faced, is Oman’s largest Raptor .
Masirah Island’s Turtles were the subject for the HAO this evening
Elayne Looker gave a very nice presentation to the Historical Association of Oman about Masirah Island’s Turtles in Oman.
She has been surveying and researching on Masirah Island where the worlds largest population of Loggerhead Turtles nest . Elayne gives training to all Turtle Rangers in Oman and certainly the ones at Ras Al Jinz are passing her information on to visitors. Amongst the hazards turtles face are tourism properties near beaches, and the example of one on the main turtle beach in Masirah was mentioned. Other hazards are plastic bags, which resemble jellyfish a key food for many turtles and ‘J’ hooks used to catch fish.
Loaloat Al Behar at berth in Mina Sultan Qaboos Oman
With the arrival of the Loaloat Al Behar in Mina Sultan Qaboos, Oman’s Ministry of Tourism enters the Cruise business. This was the last yacht of H.M. Sultan Qaboos and was given to Oman’s Ministry of Tourism on arrival of the new very splendid Al Said – its replacement.
Loaloat Al Behar has been refitted in Dubai as a mini (if that’s the right word for 100meters) cruise ship or maxi yacht. Though the deck does not have a pool it does have a mini Jacuzzi is available to cool off in. It will probably appeal to large families or a holiday with friends .
I wonder what the chartering fee will be .
we climbed to look out over the UAE from the Rub al Khali in Oman
After a long drive we managed to make it to the Rub al Khali border with the UAE in time for sun-set. Not as dramatic as southern Oman’s Rub Al Khali nor with the interest of the Wahiba Sands but this section still has the power to make a human feel insignificant.
It was from this dune that I heard the ‘singing of the sands’ – wonderful.
When camping in the Wahiba a few days ago the sunset wind was strong , here fortunately is was little more than a gentle breeze.
An unbelievably small flow of water allows a village to survive up in Oman’s mountains
In the upper reaches of Oman’s Jebel Akhdar mountains I came across this tiny cascade of water. The groove running left to right is a small man made channel a few centimetres wide in which the trickle is collected in .
Then in a small fountain/waterfall (bottom right of the image) it drops into a collecting pool which feeds into a Falaj. For some 200 people in a small hamlet this is their agricultural water supply. Its drinking water is another similar sized source – topped up with occasional deliveries from the valley 1500ft below.
A well attended talk in the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman
Dr David Ford, The Regius (Royal) Professor of Divinity at Cambridge University was in Oman to give talks about the wisdom of the Christian, Islamic and Jewish faiths today.
I was able to make it to his evening talk at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque where he mainly illustrated Christian wisdom .
We survived a desert storm to enjoy Omani Coffee and Honey
Arriving in one of Oman’s Deserts the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands to set up camp we were faced with flying sand and strong winds; a normal sunset event as the weather heats up. We couldn’t really do anything till the wind had died down – and today it really didn’t want to . Eventually having stretched the time of our move into plan B – a departure to a permanent camp – we were relieved that the wind did die down – and up the tents went in the darkness. Steaks cooked and baked potatoes unwrapped and the meal was good to eat. Continue reading “Golden Sands and Golden Honey in Oman”
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